Top Soccer Betting Picks of the Week – July 24th Edition

We’re still a few weeks away from the opening of the major European soccer leagues, but sports betting enthusiasts who are looking for soccer action in the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup can still find some action in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United leads the Eastern Conference with 44 points, four points clear of NYC FC (who has two matches in hand) and six point clear of the New York Red Bulls (with three matches in hand). In the Western Conference, FC Dallas has moved to the top of the table, four points clear of LAFC and six points clear of Sporting KC (all even in matches played). Take a look at our soccer betting suggestions for three matches set for this week.

Top Soccer Betting Picks of the Week – July 24th Edition

MLS Power Rankings: Minnesota United make big jump after six-point week https://t.co/uueqePpP6G pic.twitter.com/DJAjedPnVI

— 365FootballOrg (@365FootballOrg) July 24, 2018

Thursday, July 26

NYC FC at Orlando City (8:00pm ET)

Orlando City has slid down near the bottom of the East standings, 22 points behind Atlanta United and with a -16 goal differential. Their last action came on Saturday, as they lost in Columbus against the Crew. Things looked solid for Orlando City as they led going into the waning minutes, but then Gyasi Zardes scored his second goal of the game in the 88th minute, converting a penalty, and Will Trapp scored in stoppage time to take what had looked like a win, and then a draw, into zero points. Orlando City was outshot 15-9 (6-5 on target) and possessed for just 42 percent of the game, but they still got tallies from Sacha Kliestan and Stefano Pinho to build that lead. Now they will face one of the East’s best teams in NYC FC, who has not played since July 14, when they shut out that same Columbus Crew side, 2-0. Jesus Medina scored in the 80th minute and Anton Tinnerholm added insurance ten minutes later. The game was even statistically with NYC FC just winning the battle of shots 18-17 (5-5 on target), and having possession for 54% of the game. Both teams registered 82% pass accuracy, but Columbus just could not find the back of the net. I see NYC FC having similar success bottling up the Orlando City attack. Soccer Betting Prediction: NYC FC 2, Orlando City 0

LA Galaxy at LAFC (10:30pm ET)

The Galaxy sit just four points behind their newer counterparts in Los Angeles, and they come in fresh off the heels of a 3-1 road shellacking of Philadelphia on Saturday. Philadelphia took an early lead thanks to C.J. Sapong’s goal in the 29th minute, but Ola Kamara brought things level just after the intermission, and then newcomer Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the Galaxy the lead in the 63rd minute, with Michael Ciani salting away the win 19 minutes later. Philadelphia had more shots (15-14) but lost the battle in shots on target (7-9) and on possession (just 46% of the game). The Galaxy will face a tougher opponent in LAFC, though. LAFC will be looking for some redemption after simply getting annihilated at Minnesota United, falling by a 5-1 score on Sunday. Rasmus Schueller scored for the United in the 25th minute, and then Benny Felhaber answered for LAFC a minute later, but then Christian Ramirez and Darwin Quintero scored in the waning minutes of the first half. Miguel Ibarra added a goal in the 56th minute, and then Ramirez completed his brace two minutes later. LAFC possessed for 58% of the game and sent 13 shots (7 on target), but they just had no answer on defense. I think LAFC uses this game to make a statement and get things moving in the right direction. Soccer Betting Prediction: LAFC 3, LA Galaxy 1

Saturday, July 28

FC Dallas at Sporting KC (8:30pm ET)

FC Dallas looks to expand their lead over Sporting KC on Saturday night. FC Dallas took a 1-1 draw at the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. In that game, Matt Hedges scored in the first minute for the visitors, and then Houston answered with a tally from Mauro Manotas seven minutes later, and that was all the scoring. FC Dallas possessed for 57% of the game and outshot Huston 15-12 (3-2 on target), and both teams passed crisply (89% for Dallas, 85% for Houston. Dallas will need to do more with their chances against one of the big contenders in the West. Sporting KC has not played since July 14, when they lost in New York to the Red Bulls, 3-2. Bradley Wright-Phillips opened for the hosts, scoring in the fourth minute, but Johnny Russell tied it for Sporting KC in the eighth minute. That was it for the first half, and then Roger Espinoza gave Sporting KC the lead with a tally in the 51st minute. However, the Red Bulls roared back with a late brace from Marc Rzatkowski, scoring in the 72nd and 79th minutes. New York ended up outshooting Sporting KC 17-12 (5-4 on target). Can Sporting KC right the ship at home? FC Dallas has not been great on the road this season, so I see Sporting getting the win. Soccer Betting Prediction: Sporting KC 2, FC Dallas 1